Itchy & Irritable Skin (Formication)

Ever had the feeling there are tiny insects scurrying around on or under your skin? Or felt incredibly itchy, but scratching doesn’t help? If the answer is yes, you’re probably suffering from an abnormal skin sensation called formication.

“Itchycoo Park”… This classic Small Faces song reminds us of another lesser-known perimenopause symptom.

Why now?

Falling oestrogen levels during perimenopause hit the body’s ability to produce natural skin oils and retain moisture, making it dry, flaky and itchy. Itchy skin, medically known as pruritis, can be linked to a type of abnormal skin sensation, which causes this crazy, ant crawling feeling, formication. Your skin may also be bumpy, lumpy, and red.

And the good news is…Understanding what’s causing the itching may help you to deal with and tolerate it better. As oestrogen levels stabilise, formication should settle down a year or so after you hit menopause.

HOT HELP

The best ways to deal with itchy menopause skinMaking tweaks to diet, skin care and lifestyle can go some way to relieving this niggling symptom. Watch our Hot Flush YouTube vlog on Formication to see what Janet said about discovering the symptom.